Travelogue: Learn about Harriet Tubman in N.Y.

Weekly travel rail, with a guide to the Harriet Tubman home, tips on Luggage delivery services, where to see Europe’s first Bob Marley statue and more.

American Tourist: The Harriet Tubman Home, gravesite

What is it: Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian and Union spy during the Civil War. After escaping from captivity, she made 13 missions to rescue more than 70 slaves using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. She later helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era, she fought for women's suffrage. Sept. 28 is recognized as the day Tubman led her parents to freedom (in 1857).

History: Born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman was beaten and whipped by her various owners as a child. Early in her life, she suffered a traumatic head wound when an irate slave owner threw a heavy metal weight at her, intending to hit another slave. The injury caused disabling seizures, headaches, powerful visionary and dream activity, and spells of hypersomnia that occurred throughout her entire life. A devout Christian, she ascribed her visions and vivid dreams to premonitions from God.

Legacy: Tubman, widely known and well-respected while she was alive, became an American icon in the years after her death. A survey at the end of the 20th century named her as one of the most famous individuals in American history, third only to Betsy Ross and Paul Revere. When she died, Tubman was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, N.Y. The city commemorated her life with a plaque on the courthouse. The Harriet Tubman home was abandoned after 1920, but it was later renovated by the AME Zion Church. Today, it welcomes visitors as a museum and education center.

Passengers aboard an Amtrak train planning on a quick trip from Los Angeles to San Diego got an unpleasant surprise recently when the train ran out of fuel just miles from the San Diego station. The train – and passengers – had to sit in the train for two hours while they waited for help. Amtrak responded by saying their trains rarely run out of fuel. No word on if the company made amends with the 80 passengers.

Serbia is jammin’

A village in Serbia recently unveiled a statue commemorating Bob Marley, the first such tribute to the reggae star in Europe. Serbia and Bosnia are known for honoring stars from other countries, and other statues include Bruce Lee (in Bosnia) and Rocky Balboa (Serbia). The Marley statue can be seen in the village of Banatski Sokolac.

Fun Facts

- The emblem of Finland's Nuuksio National Park is the Siberian flying squirrel, but don't expect to see one there -- they're nocturnal and live in the tree tops. (Wikitravel.org)

- If you should somehow find yourself in Yakutsk, be sure to pick up some Pantoff, a vodka made with the extract of reindeer blood. (Wikitravel.org)

Travel Tip: Luggage delivery services

Luggage delivery services provide a door-to-door service, where your luggage or equipment is picked up from your home or office and delivered to your hotel. A look at the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

- Lighter load: You can travel with just your carry-on luggage.
- Less line time: You can avoid the prolonged luggage check-in lines.
- If you check in online, it means you can bypass the traditional check-in desk altogether, also meaning that you can arrive at the airport closer to the departure time of your flight.
- Avoid the line at the baggage carousel at your destination airport.
- Eliminate incidents of airline lost, delayed or damaged luggage.
- Can ship surfboards and other oddly shaped items that airlines may not accept as checked luggage.

Disadvantages:

- Luggage delivery could cost you a lot more than checked bags (even with the fees airlines have recently been assessing).
- Luggage delivery is slow. Typical delivery time is five business days, or even more for international flights. Express services are available, but they can easily double or triple the cost.
- Luggage delivery as unaccompanied baggage may cause Customs hassles, although most luggage deliverers take care of the paperwork. (Wikitravel.org)

Talk Like a Local: Portuguese

Goodbye (formal or permanent)

- Adeus (uh-DEOOSH)

Goodbye (informal)

- Tchau (CHOW)

See you later

- Até logo (ah-TEH LOH-goo)

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